Hand grenade



Nov; 9, 1943. c. H. BRAUN 2,334,062

HAND GRENADE Filed May 18, 1942 Z'SheetS-Sheet 1 0') INVENTOR.

c/ar'ence if. Braurg JTTRNEY Nov. 9, 1943. c BRAUN 2,334,062

HAND GRENADE Filed May 18, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Clare/c 66 H. Brawl? gam - certain way. i

. outwards.

1 and-of the objectsand advantages thereof, referj ence. will be had to the following description I and accompanying drawings, and to the appendedclaims in whichpthe variousnovel features 9 1' of the invention are more. particularly set forth.

Patented Nov. 9, 1943 Q STAT zssaatz HAND qnENApE Clarence H. Braun, Hicksville, Y. i I pplication May 18', 1942, seria1ivo;44s,s57

13 Claims. (91102-64) This invention relatesto new and useful improvements in a hand grenade. I The invention proposes a hand grenade which is characterized by a hollow body for the explosive material,- a percussion cap seat mounted I through the front end of. said body over said percussion cap seat and adapted to discharge the hand grenade when it is thrown and strikes an'object; j

.More particularly, theinvention proposesthat a casing be threadedly mounted on the front of the body over said cap seat so as to be removable and releasable, as desired, to give access to the cap seat so that a "cap -'may be placed thereon.

' It' isfurther proposed thatthe operating mechanism of the hand grenade be mounted on and in said casing. V

More particularly; ity is contemplated that. a plunger shaft beslidably'mountedin the said I casing and be providedwith a firing head aligned with said cap seat, that resilient means be provided for urging said plunger shaft towards said a cap seat, and that a safety bolt, and catches be 1 position. Inso far asythe catches are concerned,

it is proposed that they be mounted on the casing I forwards of the safety bolt and be cooperative I with elements on the plunger shaft for locking the same in a cooked loaded position.

It'is also contemplated that a head for the grenade be slidablyand non-rotativelymounted on the frontend of the casing, and that it have a tubular shaft entering said casing and encircling said plunger shaft. Furthermorait is proposed that the tubular shaft be so designed 1 that when the head of the grenade is depressed,

it engages and releases said catches.

I Resilient means is also proposed' for urging the head of the grenade outwards. Small latches are also provided on the tubular shaft of the grenade head and are coactable and engageable'with elements' on the plunger shaft for gripping the same to. move the plunger shaft outwards to its I cooked position, when the grenade head is pulled For further comprehension of this invention,

In the accompanyingdrawings terialpart of this disclosure; v I

lfig. :1. is a perspective view -of.a hand grenade constructed in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal sectionalview of the hand grenade illustrated inn-position in which the plunger shaftisnot yet cocked. I

, Fig. 3 is a sectional vi euz j alzen.onthe line 3-3 ofFig. 2. 7

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary enlarged detailedview of a portion of Fig. 2 showing particularly the details of one of the latches- Fig. 5. is a sectional view similar. to Fig. 2 but illustrating the plunger shaft in .its cocke'dposition in which the hand be thrown. 1 i -The hand grenade, in accordance with this invention, includes a hollow body 10 for the ex plosive charge H! of the grenade. The handle H ,by which the grenademay bev grippedand thrown is mounted uponone end of the hollow body H1. The other end of the hollow bodyis provided with a. closure wall 12 which has a central opening. through which-a percussion'cap seat I3 is mounted. vThis percussion cap. seat is supported on several webs which connect with a ring l5.- mounted in the end of the body 10. A casing 16 threadedly engages on-the front endof the body J0 and over the cap seat .l3 and engages the ring I 5 for .releasablyholding the.

same in position.

. A plunger shaft 11. "a steamy-mounted in the casing .l 6 and has. a' firing head l8 aligned with the saidcap seat l3, Resilient meansacts be-: tween thecasing I6 and the plungershaft 11 for urging it towards the cap seat I 3. This "resilient means comprises aspring l9 mou n'ted within the casing v I 6 and acting between a partition 20 formed in the casing and I i A a washer 2l which is engaged behind the. firing head. 18.

A safety bolt 22 is transverselyfslidably mount:

ed on the casing l6 and engages a longitudinal slot 23 on the plunger shaft I 1. This'slot 23 ,connects at one end with a transverse opening 24 through the plunger shaft l'l When the plunger shaft 11 is in its cocked loaded position, the opening'24 will be aligned with and engaged by thesa'fety bolt 22. Y

The safety bolt 22 is urged inwards by a spring:

25 acting between afiangef26 on the bolt and a side portion of the casing IS. The safety boltis provided with a laterally projecting pin 2? engaging a slot 28 in the casing 16. The safety belt 22 may be manually gripped and pulled outwards and turned to disengage" the pin'2l from the slot 28, and then it will be retracted out of contact withthe plunger shaft I! which i v in a certain; Way," as

hereinafter more'fully described.

is'then free and may act f m a ma.

grenade is lready to- I, on design. v A head. for the grenade is slidably and non- 'he iront end of-the casing "ls, nehead'aaj a s p I i V m a lorigitudinally'extentled slot-'aionfthe casinfi6 topreventtii'e; head 'fiomturning. 'The vl'ie'ad- 33; is 'piovidedwith a'central'; projecting a rr hef fi renam maa m which encircles one end of the" plunger shattll;

Catches '30 are mounted on the casing l6 and are cooperative with complementary elements,

such as a groove 3| on the plunger shaft II for locking the latter in its cocked loadedposition. in Fig.1 z'the'. catches ",are shown'inoperative; In Fig.5 the catches Ill-are shown engagingthe groove 3] for locking the plungershait; as stated. The catches 30 comprise springs mounted at on'eli of their ends on the casing: i6 and arranged so that their otherends normally tend to engage the" While springs have heemshown I01, this purpose it should be borneinmind that other;

groove 3 I.

Each bolt-50 comprises a stud shaftli slidably mounted in a recess 52 formed with the casing"; A'ball member" is mounted on the inner'end types of catchesmay be usedfjdepending merely The 'tubular'shaft 3 6 normally doesnot engage the" when the grenade head 33 is pressedinwardsthe" 2,334,062 1 q? .511, to hit the cap with suiflcient force to cause the grenade to be exploded.

' An auxiliary means is provided maintaining the head 33 in its inoperative position as shown in Fig. 2. "This mmnrdimprises a pair of bolts Slmcuritedfwlthiri the casing J and 7 arranged to be cooperative with opposite sides of I ;.the tubular shaft 36 of the head 33. Each of these bolts Ellis alike in construction and explicit details of their-construction is given in Fig.4.

of the stud shaft and is cooperative with a complementary recess 54 formed in 'the side 'of the tubular-shaft a. 64 ms v sidewalls to permit-theballmember "3o forced i'n one direction or member: v

mmentmemswpmvmed romrgmgt esteo Y and enter; the recess w ee is sham-l1 ftofoause theball member a tomes? constantly against t e-fade 1 or the tubular shaft 86-5 'This means-cernprises "an expansion spring catches so; as illiistratedflin Fig. 5. However inner encloffthe tubular shaft-3t engages the catches 80; spreading'them and moving them to onsso that they;' are tree-iron! inoperative posi theplunger'shait n 1 z esin' e urgesfthe :B *.=.3,. fit ai 1fi I This resilientmeans comprises a heiica lfspring,

31 mounted on the tubular shaft flandaotingf between a shoulder A; romeo; in the, casing l6,

and aportion of; the head Q83 iorfnormallyurging he headoutwards. Latches 89 are mounted'upon the side oithe. tubular. shaft 35. Each vstein .4311s proviii edjwith ahead Swhich limits its inward motionl'jj'A ball socket 1.6 is slid'ably mounted on;

each 'stei'n,,l3. 1f Angtirpansion. spring 41' is fco ,axiallxinounted on each stem: .431. and K acjtsij beq tweenlgthegihallsockt l6 and the sideaoffthellever,

7 member. ujfor urgiiigthe arrninwardsi Tl' eelefl ments" ll) Jcomprise longitudinally extending grooves formed-lithe. side of. the-plungershait l l, Each of the lever members A I" is formed. With'a curved 48 'which eiztendsaldng the outer face of the tubularshaft lt-whenlthe nas orme er members arenengaged within the.grooves 40.. a The; interior o f theeasing .llieformed with lne, wardly extending projections QQg'Which-Je tend. into the path-traversed bathe taflslti when the head 33 and plunger I'I moves iromwthecooked position shown in liigi 5-to the position in which the firingrhead l8 strikes-the percussiontc'ap in v the cap seat; I; to setf oil' the grenade. v, At a; point duringg-this movement,;-. and more particularly when thegrin'ghe'aiis about-in -positi0ntoiiit thecap, the-tails 48.;will ride beneath theprojecgum rstobdimm athe The hand grenade is supplied wish-mammal l and moved' until thelatches 38' slide'u'p over the wincontinue? until the tail members n oran tions andpivot the lever members and disengage I catches: awnm blmeath the,T 18 flfonsu;

m m t wi eth P z' o t e=.head-8 a d This will" camseithe me mayor 11 v e;

P m 1 mins New us the p unger the rea maining distancegand".causevthefiring. head ti;

coaxially mounted upon an intermediate tion ot thes'tud m rt-:s1.- spnzjieu'o emes. between the-base wall olme reoese W' a V a mountedon tiie -fnherf end of the-fetud'ahaft 5' I to' retain the ball" me'mb'eril in Myfll'dohtlct' wan-me swear the tubui rehortw. I v operation or "the hand -grenade e iremomdanaiwith me saityfiiolt ztehgegmg zhe longitedinalsiot of the" plunger short-I1. cm s unturned gto tmm ectit from mem uow t. r 'AJperCHsBiOn con is thaipiaoed ontrie peteus'slon I31 me wflwy' ll isksuppiied' containing the eir PI G 8186 I'I' ec'asing" ts' then back'on the body HI. The flring'h di mpe held 'about 5 inch away from the pe'e'c gg' m; new? by' 'the safety II.

- head 3:: is then snpped e the icons "It end ct -me ioneer shaft n and then engage-into the longitudinal? slots 10; The 'p'arts are shown inthisconditioninmfl'."

grenade ifsoock'ediby head Blflilhtly rewards." TI Since" the lever members engaging-the caterer-ids of the slotsu'they wiil' punqthe plungershait II' to its tiorLL Inthis;position'thepatche iiwill engage the groove element; andsimultaheouslytm'ib t 2! will engage the: opening .Zlhf'flie Parts are 55 shown in this conditionin Fig. "5.

.mme cocked; positidnbi' the hand-.gre'nldethe sprlngtl msumier compression readyto sho'otthepmnger 'shni t tl 'l ra'wards so that its firing strflnsitfie percussioncap. -When one'desi're's to i w throw ti-i'e hand gramme it is necesaeryythat the safety bolt nhepuiied' outwardszsoithtt itidisem "gages: .irom theopening ll. it mm h'e slightiymmed eo thattne pm 21 engages out:

sidetof the casing which li oids triez-sa'retymn I 22 inoperltve: The at ries, u are now theplung'eri'shart fl mite cockedfposition'. when the grenade vis.tim'zwrrm, ana' sn obiettmfi' head a-wmme. pressed inwards;- A -meheee asimoves inwards the plunger I! will also move I wards therewith.

irtward-"motionu'as '9. mt

berslrl'to be plvutedm a 'ciockwile diamante" 1 disengage the o fthe lever members! mm for'assistihg in the grooves '40. By this time the free end of the tubular shaft will have engaged the springs 35! and moved to afposition similar to that shown in Fig; 2. This will free 'the' plunger of the tu- Y bular shaft 35 and the casing it m be continued oniits way towards the cap bythe sprin I 9. The spring l9-instantlyshoots the plunger shaft ll forwards so that th firing head 18 strikes the percussion c'ap. This sets off the hand grenade.

' While Ihave' illustrated and. described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that Ido not limit myself to the preciseuconstructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in th'e appended claims. I a r Having thus described -my invention, what I claim as new; and desireto secure by: United States Petters Patentis: 1 a :1.. A hand grenade, :comprising an explosive material anda hollow body'therefor, a percus' sion' cap seat mounted throughthe front end'of said bod'y; a casing threadedly mounted'on the front of said body" and "over said cap seat, a plunger shaft slidably mounted in said-casing and I having a firing head aligned withsaid cap "seat.

resilient means acting between said casing and plunger shaft for urging it-towards said cap seat,

- a safety bolt transversely sli'dablymounted on said "casingand engaging a longitudinal slot on said i'g'ilu'rigershaft, said slot terminating in an M openingwhich engaged by said bolt locks the plunger shaft in a cocked loaded'position, catches on said casing and forwards of said safety bolt, elements onsaid' plunger shaft tobe engaged by said catches fforlocking the'same in a cooked loaded position, a' head for the grenade slidably and non-rotatively mounted on the front end of said casing and having a tubular shaft entering said casing and encircling said plunger shaft. and

when depressed engagingand releasing said catches,--r'esilient means urging said head out-" wards, latches mounte'don said tubular shaft and elements on'said plunger-shaft to be engaged by said latches" for gripping same to move said plunger shaft to its cocked position when said head is pulled slightly outwards. Y

2. A hand grenade, comprising an explosive material and a hollow body therefor, a percussion cap seat mounted through the front end of said body; a. casing threadedly mounted on'the front of said body and over said cap seat, a plunger a shaft slidably' mounted in said casing and having afiring head alignedwith said cap seat, resilient means acting between said casing and plunger shaft for urging it towards said cap seat, a'safety bolt transversely slidablymountedon said casing and engaging a longitudinal slot on saidplunger shaft, said slot terminating in an opening which when engaged by said bolt locks the pluger shaft in a cooked loaded position, catches on said casing and forwards of said safety bolt, elements on said plunger shaft to be engaged by said catches for locking the same in a cocked loaded position, a

. head for the grenade slidably andnon-rotatively mounted on the front end of said casing and having a tubularshaft entering said casing and encircling said plunger shaft, and when depressed engaging and releasing said catches, resilient ,means urging said head outwards, latches mountedon said tubular shaft, and elements on said plunger shaft to bejengaged by'said latches for fgrippingsame move said plunger shaft to its cockd position when said he'ad'is pulled slightlybutwards,said hollow body being provided gripped, handled, and thrown; Y

with-"a handle by which the grenade maybe "3.A hand grenade, comprising an explosive material and a hollow body therefor, a percussion" 1 cap seat mounted through the front end: of said body, a casing threadedly mountedongthe front of said body and over said cap se'at,' a plungershaft slidably mounted in said casing "and having a firing headaligned with said c'ap' seat, resilient means acting between said casing and plungershaft for urging it towards saidcap seat, a safety bolt transversely slidably mounted on' said casing and engaging a longitudinal slot onsaid plunger shaft," said slot terminating in'anxopenin'g which when engaged by said "bolt locks the plunger" shaft ina 'cocked loaded position, catches on said casing and forwards "of said safety bolt, elements on said plunger shaftto be engagedb'y said catches for locking the same in acocked loaded position, a head for the grenade slidab'ly and nonrotatively' mounted on the frontend of said casing and having a tubular shaft entering said ca ing and encircling" said plunger shaft,-'and when depressed engaging and releasing said catches, resilient means urging said head outwards, latches mounted on' said tubular shaft, and ele1nents on i said plunger shaft tobe enga'gedby said latches for gripping same to movesaid' plunger shaft to its cocked position when'said head is pulled slightly outwardsjsaid resilient means for urging the plunger shaft'forwards comprising a washer behind'the firing head 'of the plunger shaft, and

an expansion spring acting between-said casing" and-said washer.

4. A hand grenade,fcomprising an explosive material and a hollowbody' therefor, a percussion cap seat mounted through the-front end of said body, a casing threadedly mounted on the front of said body and over said cap seat, a plunger shaft slidably mounted in said'casing and having a firing head aligned with said cap seat, resilient means acting between said casing and plunger shaft for urging it towards said cap seat, a safety bolt transversely slidably mounted'on said casing and engaging a longitudinal slot'on said plunger shaft, said slotterminating in'a'n opening which when engaged by said boltlocks the plunger shaft in a cocked loaded position, catches on said casingand forwards of said safety bolt, elements on said plunger shaft to be engaged by said catches for locking the same in a cooked loaded position, a head for the grenade slidably and nonoutwards until the pin disengages the slot and thenthe bolt may be turned to engage said pin against the outside 'of said casing for holding the safety bolt inoperative.

5. A hand grenade comprising an explosive 7 material and a hollow body therefor, a percussion cap seat mounted through the front end of said body, a casing threadedly mountedon the front of said body and over said cap seat, a. lunger shaft slidably mounted in said casing and having ,..a firing head alignedwith said cap seat, resilient H means acting between said casing and plunger shaftfor urging it towards-said cap 'seatja safety" bolt transversely slidably mounted on said ca-tint:

r slidablvandacnsrdtaiivelv momma on and. engaging. alOhgitud-inSlBlOt-Qn said plunger r shaft',isa.id slot tenninatins' in an overdue which when engagedhy said-bolt. locks: the plunger shaft in a-cockedloaded position, catche 'on said casing; and "forwards, of saidgsafety bolt,- elements onr said plunger shaft. torbeengaged by said catches forlocking the same'inajoocked loaded position, ahead for the-grenade slida-bly. and

rotatively mountedonthe front endof said casing 3 and having a tubular shaft entering: said casing 3 and; encirolinggsaid plunger shaft, and when de- I pressed engaging and releasing esaid catches, -re-,, ilient means urging'said head outwards, latches mounted on: said tubular shaft and, elements on V id plunse r shaft to be .enaasedbrca d latches;

for gripp same to move said pluneer shaft to .itsfcocked" position when said head risff Pulled slightly outwards; said safety bolt being provided with-a projecting pin engaging aslot in said ensingv whereby. the boltmay be 'pulledoutwardsi f until they pin disengages the slot and} then' the bolt may-be turned to engage said pln against the outside of said ceasing for holding (the safety bolt inoperative, and resilient means ur ng. sai

g'safety-boltintoits operative position. 6-. 'A hand grenade comprisinean. explosive -material and ahollow body therefor;,-a percussion cap seat mounted throughthe-frontend of said i b dy, ajcasing -threadedly' mountcd on the, front H of said body and-over said cap seat, a plunger V shaft slidablylmounted insaid casing-and havingi a firing head aligned withsaid can seat, resilient means acting between ,said casing and plunger shaft forrurging it towards said-capseat, asafety bolt transversely slidably mounted onsaidycasing and engaging a longitudinal 'slotonsaid plunger shaft, said slot termlnating in anlopening which when engaged by said bolt-locks theplunger shaft slidably and non-mtativelyniounted on thefr'ont end of said casing entering said casing and encircling said shaft,and when: depressed engagingv mew in a cocked loaded position, catches on said casing and forwards of-said safety bolt, elements onsaid I plunger shaft to be engaged by said catches for locking the same in a cockedloaded positionga head; forthe grenade slidably and 'non-rotatively. mounted on the. front end ofsaid casing and hav ing a-tubular shaft entering said casingandem circling said plunger shaft tand when depressed engaging I and releasing said catches, resilient means urging said head ,outwards, latches mountedon said tubular-shaft, and, elements ,on

said plunger shaft to be engaged by-said latches for grippi-ng same 'to-nlove said plunger aha-ft to" its cockedv position when said head is pulled slightly outwards; said. catchescomprisingieafsprings mounted on the casing; and-having free end urge gain t said plung r sha 7. A handgrenade {comprising -.anq-explosivef material and ahollow body therefor; 1a porous sion cap; seat mounted throu h, thefront end of said body, a casing threadedly mounted onthe front of .said' body and oversaid cap seat, ia-

plunger shaft slidably mountedin said casin mounting. of the";head;;

shaft for the catches. oomprmnggavgmm W in the .plunger-ahb1t. v

8.1 hand grenade comprising an r materialand a-"hollow' bodytherelonua mil sion cap seat mountedthmugh the front end a! r said-body, a casing threadedlymoimted frontzzofssaid-"bodygand over said a plunger shaft slidabiy mounted in said casing and having a firing head alignedwith saidcap seat.

resilient meansacting'; between said lad plunger shaft form-gins it towards saidcap asafety-bolt transversely slidably mounted on said casing and-engaging a longitudinal-Eldon said plunger shaft. aaidslot terminating in opening-which when engaged by said bolt has the plunger smnlm a cooked catches; on saide'asins and forward: o! safety bolt; elements "on saidplunger shalt be engagedbysaid catches Zorn-locking a cockedloaded a head for'gnmde ing said catches,- resilientirneans said head outwards; latches": mounted bl'paid mi shafts, and elements on said plunger shaft to r ven a ed b wa lat fo s vn 'ctnmcf move said plunger shaftto its oockedxposiibn when said head is pulledf siiS tIYouw'nrdS. said head having aiprojecting pinengaging]. slot in saidcasingrforacoomplishing said 'non-rotaflve 9. A hand grenadeIanv vmaterial and a hollow body therefor. apercussion cap seat mediated through the fruit end of ,said body, a casing threadedly mounted the i front of said audiover: can seat. a

plunger shaft slidably mountedinm casing ihavins a :fli'ing head Withikki can seat, resilient means said: I and plunger shaftfor urging it towards said cap f seatga safety boltztransveraely slidably mounted onsaid, casinsandensssinga and having a firing head aligned with said cap Y I seatyresilient means acting between-said casing and plungerishaft forurging it towards said capseat; a. safety bolt: transversely slidably mounted on said casing and engaging'a longitudinal slot on said plunger shaft, said slot terminating in an opening which when engagedby said bolt locks the plunger shaft in acocked loaded-posh tion, catches on said casing and forwards of said safety'bolt;elementsjon said plunger shaft to be; engaged by said catches for locking'the Same in I a cockedloadedlposition; a head forthefgrenade on said plunger shaftsaidsleittaminating iii-1 an. opening whichwhenengaa s yr said bolt locksthe' plunger shaft in. cocked loaded position, catches on said casing and forwards of said safety bolt, elements said plunger M, be engagedby said catches for locking the samein' a cocked loadedpositiomahead forflie e slidably and non mtatively on the front end of said casin'gvand having a enterings'aid casing and sflpllmger shaft, and whenidepr'essedeneasine and e ing said catches, v resilient; means said head outwards, latches mountedont-said tubular shaft, and elements, said plunger shaft'io be engaged by said latchesior. to- 7 move said plunger shaft toqit fleocked" position when said head is milled slightly add neaq having Ia proiecfi fi lpin qnqw 4 time v said casing for accomplishing said non-rotative mounting of the head, said resilient means for urging the head outwards comprising a spring mounted on said tubular shaft and acting between a shoulder on said casing and said head.

10. A hand grenade comprising an explosive material and a hollow body therefor, a percussion cap seat mounted through the front end of said body, a casing threadedly mounted on the front of said body and over said cap seat, a

plunger shaft slidably mounted in said casing and having a firing head aligned with said cap seat, resilient means acting between said casing and plunger shaft for urging it towards said cap seat, a safety bolt transversely slidably mounted on said casing and engaging a longitudinal slot on said plunger shaft, said slot terminating in an opening which when engaged by said bolt locks the plunger shaft in a cooked loaded position, catches on said casing and forwards of said safety bolt, elements on said plunger shaft to be engaged by said catches for locking the same in a cocked loaded position, a head for the grenade slidably and non-rotatively mounted on the front end of casing and having a tubular shaft entering said casing and encircling said plunger shaft,

and when depressed engaging and releasing said catches, resilient means urging said head outwards, latches mounted on said tubular shaft,

and elements on said plunger shaft to be engaged by said latches for gripping same to move said plunger shaft to its cocked position when said head is pulled slightly outwards, said latches comprising anglemembers mounted through said tubular shaft, stems pivotally connected with the inner arms of the angle members, said stems being extended through the tubular shaft, and springs on said stems urging them inwards.

11. A hand grenade, comprising an explosive material and a hollow body therefor, a percussion cap seat mounted through the front end of said body, a casing threadedly mounted on the front of said body and over said cap seat, a plunger shaft slidably mounted in said casing and having a firing head aligned with said cap seat, resilient means acting between said casing and plunger shaft for urging it towards said cap seat, a safety bolt transversely slidably mounted on said casing and engaging a longitudinal slot on said plunger shaft, said slot terminating in opening which when engaged by said bolt locks the plunger shaft in a cocked loaded position, catches on said casing and forwards of said safety bolt, elements on said plunger shaft to be engaged by said catches for locking the same in a cooked loaded position, a head for the grenade slidably and non-rotatively mounted on the front end of said casing and having a tubular shaft entering said casing and encircling said plunger shaft, and when depressed engaging and releasing said catches, resilient means urging saidhead outwards, latches mounted on said tubular shaft, and elements on said plunger shaft to be engaged by said latches for gripping same to move said plunger shaft to its cocked position when said head is pulled slightly outwards, said latches comprising angle members mounted through said tubular shaft, stems pivotally connected with the inner arms of the angle members, said stems being extended through the tubular shaft, and springs on said stems urging them inwards, said elements for the latches comprising longitudinal grooves on said plunger shaft.

12. A hand grenade comprising an explosive material and a hollow body therefor, a percussion cap seat mounted through the front end of said body, a casing threadedly mounted on the front of said body and over said cap seat, a plunger shaft slidably mounted in said casing and having a firing head aligned with said cap seat, resilient means acting between said casing and plunger shaft for urging it towards said cap seat, a safety bolt transversely slidably mounted on said casing and engaging a longitudinal slot on said plunger shaft, said slot terminating in an opening which when engaged by said bolt locks the plunger shaft in a cooked loaded position, catches on said casing and forwards of said safety bolt, elements on said plunger shaft to be engaged by said catches for locking the same in a cooked loaded position, a head for the grenade slidably and non-rotatively mounted on the front end of said casing and having a tubular shaft entering said casing and encircling said plunger shaft, and when depressed engaging and releasing said catches, resilient means urging said head outwards, latches mounted on said tubular shaft, and elements on said plunger shaft to be engaged by said latches for gripping same to move said plunger shaft to its cocked position when said head is pulled slightly outwards, said head having a projecting pin engaging a slot in said casing for accomplishing said non-rotative mounting of the head, said resilient means for urging the head outwards comprising a spring mounted on said tubular shaft and acting between a shoulder on said casing and said head, and means for holding said head in an inward position against the action of the spring which tends to urge said head outwards.

13. A hand grenade comprising a hollow body for the explosive material of the grenade, a percussion cap seat mounted through the front end of said body, a casing threadedly mounted on the front of said body and over saidcap seat, a plunger shaft slidably mounted in said casing and having a firing head aligned with said cap seat, resilient means acting between said casing and plunger shaft for urging it towards said cap seat, a safety bolt transversely slidably mounted on said casing and engaging a longitudinal slot on said plunger shaft, said slot terminating in an opening which when engaged by said bolt locks the plunger shaft in a cocked loaded position, catches on said casing and forwards of said safety bolt and cooperative with elements on said plunger shaft for locking the same in a cooked loaded position, a head for the grenade slidably and nonrotatively mounted on the front end of said casing and having a tubular shaft entering said casing and encircling said plunger shaft, and when depressed engaging and releasing said catches, resilient means urging said head outwards, and latches mounted on said tubular shaft and engageable with elements on said plunger shaft for gripping same to move said plunger shaft to its cocked position when said head is pulled slightly outwards, said head having a projecting pin engaging a slot in said casing for accomplishing said non-rotative mounting of the head, said resilient means for urging the head outwards comprising a spring mounted on said tubular shaft and acting between a shoulder on said casing and said head, and means for holding said head in an inward position against the action of the spring which tends to urge said head outwards, comprising spring pressed ball members engageable in a complementary recess formed in the sides of said tubular shaft.

CLARENCE H. BRAUN. 

